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M. L-. DIXON. CIGAR CUTTER.

No. 477,249. Patented June- 21, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAYNARD L. DIXON, OF NEVK YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO F. H. LA PIERRE,

OF SAME PLACE.

CIGAR-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,249, dated J'une 21, 1892.v

Application filed March 15, 1892. Serial No. 424,979. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAYNARD L. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cigar-cutters; and it consistsin a novel construction of the mech- [o anism for operating'the cutter or blade and in a spring-ejector for ejecting from the case the portion that is cutfrom the cigar, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation as the device I 5 appears as ordinarily carried. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the partsin longitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a side view with the blade thrown out ready to operate on a cigar, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the parts in the same position. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the operating mechanism and its frame detached. 4

Various forms of cigar-cutters have been made having a V-shaped knife arranged to cut a V-shaped notch in the end of the cigar; but usually these blades have been arranged to move in the arc of a circle, and in nearly all stylesof cigar-cutters there is a constant tendency for the portion that is cut off to stick 0 or remain in the case and interfere with the subsequent use of the cutter.

The object of my present invention is to produce a cigar-cutter that will not be subject to these objections and which will so operate 5 as to make a quick clean out without tearing. the wrapper, and at the same time eject the cut portion from the case.

In the drawings,A represents the case,which I usually make of silver or gold and in which the operating mechanism is secured. This case has a conical opening or mouth 0 for the reception of the point of the cigar, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and through the case at right angles to this I make another opening rectangular in cross-section for the reception of a slide B, to one corner or angle of which is secured a V-shaped cutting-blade J, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, this blade forming two sides of the slide B and the opening or hole in which it moves being made to intersect the opening 0, in which the cigar-point is placed,

as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, so that as the slide B, with its blade Z, is moved across the mouth 0 the blade will cut a V-shaped notch across the end of the cigar inserted in the mouth 0.

To move the slide B, with its blade Z, I use a lever L, the front end of which is connected to the slide in any suitable manner, the simplest being by having its end restin ahole in the wall of the slide, as shown in Fig. 2,it being pivoted on a pin e at the rear partof thecase, While its rear end projects through a slot in the end of the case far enough to enable it to be operated by the thumb and fin- 6 ger. As shown in Figs.2 and 4, on the under side of this lever L, directly opposite its pivot, is a cam or V-shaped projection a, arranged to bear against a similar V-shaped projection b on the end of a stiff springf, which '70 is arranged parallel with the lever L, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. WVith these parts thus arranged it will be seen that when the leverL is moved or tipped on its pivot e the cam a of the lever bearing against the cam or pro- 7 jection b on the spring will depress the spring until the point of cam e passes the point of cam b, when the pressure of the springf, operating through its cambon the opposite side of the cam a, will impart to the lever L and through it to the slide B a quick or sudden movement, thus causing the blade Z to pass through or across the tip of the cigar with what may be termed a sudden stroke, the result being a clean out without any crushing of the tip or tearing of the wrapper.

In Fig. 4 the lever is shown in the position it will occupy when the slide, with its blade, is thrown back preparatory to the insertion of the cigar-tip to be cut, and in Fig. 2 the parts are shown in the position they will occupy after the out has been made.

The lever and springI mountin a separate frame P, composed of two side plates, one of which is turned over along one edge to form 5 a bearing for the spring f, as shown in Figs.

2 and 4, the spring being held in place by a pin d, the two plates forming a firm support for the spring and lever with their pins d and c, this frame, with these parts in it, being made up separately, as shown in Fig. 5, and then fastened in place within the case A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This, however, is not a necessity, as it-is obvious that thelever and springmay be secured direct to the case A by extending the pins through the sides of the case; but as these cases will be made of silver or gold, and necessarily somewhat thin, Iprefer to use the separate frame, as it makes a stronger and more durable article, and, besides, the side plates of the frame P serve to keep the lever and spring in line or parallel one with the other, thus enabling them to be made thinner than they otherwise could be, and yet prevent the cams from becoming displaced sidewise, in which case they would cease to operate as intended.

To the end of the lever L a ring is secured, by which the device can be attached to a watch-chain and worn as a charm or ornament.

In order to expel or eject from the case the severed fragment of the cigar, I locate within the hollow slide-B a light spring 25, as shown in. Fig. 2. As the blade enters the cigar at the first part of its out the tip end of the cigar will bear on and compress this spring, which as soon as the cut iscompleted will expand suddenly and eject the severed fragment from the case.

In the drawings, Fig. 2, I have shown the spring as-having its free end covered with a small cap 0; but this is not necessary, as a simple coiled spring arranged within the slide will answer the purpose equally well, the coils being preferably as large as may be without hearing against the walls of the slide within whichit is located. It is obvious that any other form of spring may be used for this purpose, it only being necessary that it shall be eject it from the case.

so arranged. as to be compressed during the operation of making the cut and be free to act on the severed fragment afterward and It will be observed that the slide B, with its blade, moves in a right line at a right angle to the axis of the cigar, and that consequently the cut is made straight across the cigar-tip instead of in the arc of a circle, as is the case where the blade is rigidly attached to the end of a swinging or pivoted lever.

Having thus fully described my invention,

" what I claim is- 1. A cigar-cutter consisting of a case provided with an opening 0, a slide havinga cutting-blade arranged to move at a right angle to the axis of said opening, with a lever L, provided with a cam or projection a, and a springf, provided with a corresponding projection b, the said parts being arranged to operating-lever a sudden movement is imparted to the cutting-blade, the ejector-sprin g is compressed, and the severed fragment ejected, as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MAYNARD L. DIX-ON. Witnesses:

WM. H. ALDEN, EDWARD W. GILBERT. 

